Comments on: Where’s my head at?

By: G

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:34:06 +0000

Strange though it may seem, you should cherish the fact that you worry about this, because so many in the people in the world have no idea what it’s like to have that need to create something. That need for artistry and output. Most people don’t know what it’s like to have a head bursting with ideas which need crystallisation, whether it’s in paint, in words, in a photograph.

Every other person I meet claims to be a budding photographer, many of them buy an expensive camera, some even take some photos. But almost none of them have that need to. Almost none of them have that burning thing inside which you have – that which makes you stress out about not creating the images you want to create, and worrying about what stops you. It’s the side-effect of creative genius.

As for your fears – it’s never about overcoming them – because that suggests they’ll go away when you get your head straight – it’s about overriding them with stronger emotions. If, at the moment you want to press the button, all you can feel is the fear of the situation and the anxiety of that moment, then you can’t move forward.

You’ll probably never lose that feeling which rises up and wants to block you the moment you want to act on the impulse, but you have to drown it in the feeling of success you’ll have from taking the shot. The retrospective pleasure you’ll have for years to come on the picture you take, just as you have with those stunning images above.

Instead of beating yourself up about it afterwards, you need to learn to beat yourself up at the time. In that instant when you need to make a decision to take a photograph, and every fibre of your being is making you chicken out, you need to jump forward in time to tomorrow and think about how annoyed you’ll be that you didn’t bother.

You have to harness that feeling of regret from the future, and tell yourself not to live a life of missed opportunity. There are far, far harder things in life than taking a photograph, and far, far more risky things to do. You’ll feel fantastic afterwards, and you’ll be able to use that to make the next photo ever so slightly easier.

Good luck.

By: Adam Bestwick

Adam Bestwick — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 15:05:07 +0000

To use a sports analogy, form is temporary – class is permanent.
You may feel you’re treading familiar territory photographically, but, as far as I can see, you’re still doing great things.
I enjoy all of your shots, and find them engaging and interesting, and as Iain says above, maybe you need to surround yourself with new people and environments and see what happens!
ATB.

By: Vanilla Days : Best of 2009

Vanilla Days : Best of 2009 — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:41:38 +0000

[...] Everyone was taking the same 50mm f/1.8 Xmas shots in town. It had all become over-saturated and I felt lost. I have been working on a project with Fab but I’ve been feeling a bit depressed about that [...]

By: dragos

dragos — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:13:02 +0000

Just found out your blog. Lovely photos. You have a great style in post processing besides the HDR.
I will come back, for sure!
Greetings from Romania,
Dragos

By: Paul Buttle

Paul Buttle — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:20:08 +0000

Hey Pete,
Been following your work since I first saw it on TalkPhotography, you and I suffer very much from the same thing – self-doubt and a lack of confidence, I’ve walked past so many people and said to my girlfriend “they would make such an awesome photo”, she pushes me, telling me to ask them, I don’t, I’m a chicken, moment passes!!!
The difference is, you have the natural god-given ability to make an image special, your work is truly an inspiration to ME, I love looking at it, I love the thoughts behind it and I enjoy looking through all your shots.
Please keep it up, I would struggle to give you ideas to inspire you. But maybe, just maybe, the knowledge that I love your work and YOU inspire ME, might be enough…
I wish you a very merry christmas and an awesome new year.
Kind regards
Paul

By: Iain Woodside

Iain Woodside — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 11:49:40 +0000

Having spoke to you the other day at St Georges Hall, it was obvious you need a new challenge,have the self belief in yourself as you have inspired sooooooo many, and not just in hdr or photos of Liverpool, you dont need the baggage you are heaping on yourself. Its like a sports star who has a dip in form or a comedian who thinks he isnt funny ( mind most of them are miserable tbh) ride it out. Cream will always come to the top.

Instead of trying to go for different angles try new places,pop on the train or on a bike travel throughout Merseyside/Chester you know it makes sense : )

keep inspiring and have a great Christmas

By: Caza

Caza — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:47:15 +0000

I think Todd and Norbert have missed the point slightly (no offence chaps!). I cringed slightly when I read Pete’s comment “Cityscapes, buildings, sunsets, etc are all nice but they’re safe. Outside of buying a new lens, trying a new processing style or finding a new building I’m not being pushed.” as this sums me up perfectly. I know exactly how you feel Pete. To shove a camera in someones face (telephoto or not) is extremely daunting. I tried a bit of street portraiture in London, to break out of the ‘easy stuff’, whilst there on business and the first person I approached said “if I take their picture they’ll knock me out and shove my camera up my ass”. I turned the camera off and went to the pub instead. I’ve spent so much time googling new post processing techniques that I’ve now realised I’ve missed the point of having a camera. It is tough Pete. If it was easy then …blah blah blah you know the rest. I really liked the street portraiture stuff you did in Liverpool and it has inspired me to do something similar in Warrington in the next couple of weeks. I’m hoping to tap into the droves of Xmas shoppers and hope they’ll approach me instead of me having to face my fear and stop and ask people!?!?!? (this is the point)

By: Roar Lochar Ramberg

Roar Lochar Ramberg — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:08:13 +0000

I understand what you feel like and I have to a certain degree the same anxiety that you have because I feel that I am intruding when taking pictures, but still I love it. Don’t care, get some books from your favourite authors, read, learn, get their perspective and just go out and take pictures without giving a damn. Stand up for yourself and motivate yourself, set goals and pursue them with vigor and intent, and before you know it you’ll forget about the so-called bad times.

By: Mara Salami

Mara Salami — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:20:39 +0000

A litlle bit of self-doubt is never a bad thing. It means that you are never complacent. Yes tomorrow you will kick yourself for not taking that shot, capturing the moment. But you will remember how you felt today and it will push you to try further and you will strive harder for something better.

You know you do good work. I am pretty sure you have people around that would tell you something was crap if they thought so. Trust them to tell you when you are slipping.

And maybe consider if you have another day like this to stop looking to capture the moment and allow yourself to just enjoy them every once in a while. You do realise you are allowed a life away from behind the camera lens every now and then?

By: Pete

Pete — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:18:01 +0000

I don’t have an excuse. Its a simple thing of why after 4-5 yrs of this don’t I believe in myself as I should? Will I never? I do get out there and do things differently as I mentioned in the post. I just don’t know why my head makes things so complicated after all this time. Maybe its simply my way of pushing myself if I never feel like I’m doing good work. All I know is some days it really depresses me and I wanted to put it in writing… again.